Basics

Our philosophy is Simple: We want to make things as simple as possible (but no simpler). Our surveys should be simple to understand, simple to conduct, yet still have the advanced functionality behind the scenes that in the end gives actionable survey results.

Survey types

There are two different kinds of surveys:

• Multi-rater (360) A multi-rater survey has respondents answering questions in the context of a particular subject, e.g. their line manager or a peer. En example of a typical multi-rater survey is the classic 360° employee survey.
• Single-rater (employee satisfaction) A single-rater survey has respondents answering questions that are general to them, thus not regarding a particular person. An example of a typical single-rater survey is a classic employee satisfaction survey or a market analysis.

Survey states

To ensure that the Survey Manager has everything under control, a survey goes through 3 states. In each state different tasks can be performed (see full list below).

• Created This first step in the process is where the survey is being prepared. The survey manager adds subjects. The survey manager can choose to add respondents or to let the subjects add their respondents themselves.
• Running After receiving an email with a link respondents can now answer the questions. While the survey is running additional subjects and respondents can still be added, and respondents can be invited by email to answer.
• Closed Once the survey is closed respondents can no longer answer. The results are tallied and a set of reports is generated. Individual reports can be sent to subjects.

Once a survey has been paid, subjects can no longer be modified for that survey. Atlas allows you to create and run your surveys and wait with payment until the last possible moment: seeing the reports. Since 360° surveys are priced per subject, the list of subjects is frozen at the time of payment.

The survey manager can reopen a closed survey if needed, e.g. extending the deadline for some respondents that have not yet answered.

Respondent roles

For multi-rater surveys, the role defines the relationship of the respondent to the subject. For instance, if the role is Manager then the respondent is the manager of the subject. The available respondent roles are:

• Self
• Line Manager
• Peer
• Subordinate
• Customer
• Supplier
• Other

Anonymous answers

All answers given by respondents are anonymous. Survey managers can't see who gave which answer in any of our surveys. Respondents must provide contact information in the open response questions if they wish to be contacted about their answers.

Stop and go

People are busy and get interrupted all the time. The answers of the respondents are saved as the questionnaire submission goes along, allowing them to interrupt the submission and return hours or days later.

The respondent is always presented with an overview of all his answers before submitting them and must actively submit the answers for them to count.